Container and dispenser for dispensing predetermined, set, measured amounts of material



NOV 2, 1965 H. Hl-:lsLl-:R ETAL. 3,215,320

CONTAINER AND DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING' PREDETERMINED. SET, MEASURED AMOUNTS OF MATERIAL Filed Nov. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2, 1965 H. HEISLER ETAL 3,215,320

CONTAINER AND DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING PREDETERMINED. SET, MEASURED AMOUNTS OF MATERIAL United States Patent O CONTAINER AND DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING PREDETERMINED, SET, MEASURED AMOUNTS OF MATERIAL Harold Heisler, Rte. 3, Ilainiield, Ill.; Alvin M. Eicoi, Glencoe, Ill. (155 E. Ohio St., Chicago, Ill.); and Herbert B. Gottschalk, Skokie, Ill. (155 E. Ohio St., Chicago, Ill.)

Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,358 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-391) This invention relates to a container and dispenser for dispensing predetermined set measured amounts of material.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a container and dispenser in which a material is packaged and dispensed in predetermined set measured amounts. The material may be either a semi-solid or fluent mass material, or a paste, or a viscous, or a liquid material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container for products of the foregoing character with a push button type of action, in which a slight manual pressure on the push button will dispense a preset measured amount of the product.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character in which the dispensing of predetermined set measured amounts of material is accomplished by a pusher member or piston clutchingly connected to a pusher rod actuated by manual pressure, in which the piston is clutched to the rod to move with the rod on the forward stroke and is clutched to the container on the return stroke, for advancing the piston in the container an increment with each actuation of the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing device of the foregoing character which utilizes clutching means provided with sharp gripping members for effecting the clutching operation of the piston and thereby obviating the use of friction for said purpose. This results in a device which is actuated with a minimum of manual pressure.

It has been found in the dispensing of a paste or fluent mass material such as tooth paste and numerous other like packaged products which are usually packaged in co1- lapsible tubes, that the dispensing of same is left to the whim of each individual and that as a result thereof either insufficient or excessive amounts are dispensed each time the product is used. This results in a great waste of the product as the user cannot determine with any degree of certainty the amount which should be used with each application. With the present invention these objectionable features are all eliminated.' The device is so arranged that each time it is actuated, a preset, predetermined and measured amount of material will be dispensed sufficient for an individual use or application.

In the use of present day collapsible tubes a greater manual pressure is necessary to squeeze the material out of the tube when the pressure is applied at the rear end of the tube rather than at the center or the like. Thus, young children will generally start squeezing the tube from the center, and after the material has been discharged from the front end of the tube, causing that portion of the tube to collapse, the material remaining in the `lower portion of the tube cannot thereafter be conveniently dispensed. This is eliminated with the present invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device in which the dispensing operation consists of merely pressing a member, and irrespective of the pressure applied the device will operate to dispense the preset measured amount of material and will position itself in condition for the next use. With the final actuation of the device all of mon with the use of squeeze-type tubes.

3,215,320 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 lCC Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character which may be inexpensively and economically constructed and which may be thrown away after the product has been completely dispensed from the container. The cost of producing this device and the packaging of the material therein is sufiiciently low so as to make it comparable and competitive with the use of collapsible squeeze-type tubes now on the market. Further, the container may be filled by standard filling machines now in common use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of the invention with a portion sectioned and showing the piston or pusher member advanced to a forward position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, with the parts in normal position before actuation and with the piston or pusher member at its rearmost position on the pusher rod, such as when the container is fully loaded.

FIG. 3 is a view taken on lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a View taken on lines 4 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the manually pressable member pressed as when actuated and with the piston or pusher member advanced one increment on the pusher rod.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the finger of the container body clutching member engaging the inside wall of the container.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the iinger of the rod clutching member engaging the pusher rod.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a modified unitary clutch member.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on lines 9 9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. l0 is a modified construction with a portion sectioned.

FIG. 11 is a front end view taken on lines 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 12-12 of FIG. 11 and corresponding to the position of parts in FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but with the parts 1n position corresponding to FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is a view taken on lines 14-14 of FIG. 13, and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on lines 15-15 of FIG. 13.

The device includes a cylindrical-shaped body 20 forming the container 22 for the material. The front of the container is funnel-shaped as at 24 and terminates with an externally threaded neck 25 which has an end wall 26 provided with an opening or openings 28, which may be in the form of a die through which the material is expressed or discharged from the container. A closure cap 30 is threadedly secured to the neck.

The opposite or rear end of the container has no integrally formed end wall but is provided with a slidable and manually pressable member generally indicated at 32 which is axially slidable with respect to the body 20. The slidable and pressable member` includes an end cap having a skirt portion 34 and an end wall 35 provided with an inwardly extending boss 36 having a central bore 38 which receives one end of a pusher rod 40. The end of the pusher rod is internally threaded as at 41 and is secured to a threaded bolt 42 countersunk in the end Wall of the cap. The skirt portion 34 telescopes over the rear end of the cylindrical -body 20 and is slidable axially with respect thereto to a degree to be described. The pusher rod 40 is thus firmly anchored to the slidable or manually pressable member 32 and moves with it.

Positioned against the open rear end of the cylindrical body 20 and press fitted thereto is an annular plate 44 having a central opening 45 to accommodate the boss 36. The boss has an annular recess 46 in which is received a snap ring 47. A helical compression spring 48 surrounds the boss 36, with one end of the spring resting against the end wall 35 of the slidable cap and the other end against the plate 44 to normally urge and retain the slidable member 32 in its extended position, as shown in FIG. 2, in which the snap ring 47 on the slidable member 32 engages and abuts against the plate 44 to limit the outward travel of the slidable member 32.

The inward travel of the slidable member 32, as shown in FIG. 5, takes place when the slidable member 32 is manually pressed inwardly. A slight manual pressure by the hand or fingers of the user against the slidable member will cause same to slide or move inwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 5 and compress the helical spring 48. Movement of the slidable and prcssable member 32 moves with it the pusher rod 40 and the pusher head or piston generally indicated at 52, presently to be described. The distance of movement or travel of the slidable member 32 lon each actuation, which is indicated by the arrowed line 50 in FIG. 5, is preset and remains fixed, hence, a set predetermined and measured amount of material is dispensed from the container each time the slidable member 32 is pressed, as will be subsequently described.

It should be noted that by virtue of the positive clutching arrangement, to be subsequently described, in which the clutching members grip or bite into their respective engaging members that friction is not relied upon for clutching, thereby reducing friction in this device, and by virtue of this arrangement a minimum of manual pressure is employed to actuate the device. Hence, actuation or control is effected by a slight manual touch which is an important factor.

The pusher member or piston generally indicated at 52 is mounted on the pusher rod 40 and is provided with positive clutching means generally indicated at 54 which will cause the pusher member or piston 52 to move forwardly with the pusher rod 40 with each actuation in the direction of the discharge nozzle of the container, but will remain stationary in the forwardly moved position as the pusher rod retracts from its said actuation. Upon release of the manual pressure against the slidable member 32 the spring 48 acting against the end cap will return the slidable member from the FIG. position to its extended position as shown in FIG. 2 and with it the pusher rod 40 will be retracted.

The pusher member or piston 52 has a truncated coneshaped head 55 and a body portion 56 with a reversely bent skirt 57 to provide a pocket 58 between the body portion and skirt. The ends of the skirt engage and wipe against the inner wall 21 of the cylindrical body and provides an effective seal for the rear end of the container, with a minimum of friction between the piston and the container. The piston has a central sleeve 59 which surrounds the pusher rod 40. The sleeve extends forwardly of the head and has an increased internal diameter which merges into an inwardly flared and sharpened front edge 59 which provides an effective seal with respect to the pusher rod 40. This arrangement also reduces the friction between the piston and the pusher rod 40 as the friction is principally at the front edge 59.

The positive clutching means generally indicated at 54 which is carried by the pusher member or piston 52 consists of a rod clutching or gripping member generally indicated by the numeral 60, and a container body clutching or gripping member identified generally by the numeral 62. The terms rod clutching and container body clutching members identify the parts of the device which the respective clutching members engage for effecting their respective clutching operation. Both of these members are formed preferably of a mildly resilient metal.

The rod clutching member 60 is shaped to provide an annular side wall 63 which continues outwardly to form an inner annular wall 64 and then rearwardly to form a rearwardly extending flange or lip 65. The rod clutching member 60 is positioned against the rear of the piston with the side wall 63 nesting and press-fitted within the piston body and the annular wall 64 forming a shoulder against the rear of the piston with the lip extending rearwardly thereof. Extending inwardly of the side wall 63 is an end wall 66 provided with a central opening 67 to accommodate the rod 40.

The end wall is provided with spaced slots 68 radiating from the center which bisect spaced openings 69 in the end wall and which form a plurality of spaced radiating fingers 70 which are bent to extend and face rearwardly at an oblique angle so that the sharp engaging edges 71 of the fingers engage and bite into the pusher rod 4t), as best shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7, so that as the pusher rod 40 is moved forwardly from the FIG. 2 to the FIG. 5 position the pusher member or piston 52 will remain afxed to the rod 40 and move with it and push against the rear of the material in the container to expel it outwardly vthrough the discharge opening 28. The rod and piston member can only move forward on each actuation the distance identified by the numeral 50 in FIG. 5, and hence, only a set, predetermined and measured amount of material is discharged from the container on each actuation.

Upon the completion of the forward stroke of the rod and upon manual release of the slidable member 32, the spring 48 will act against the slidable member and urge it outwardly or rearwardly, thereby retracting the pusher rod 40. During the retraction of the rod 40 the obliquely positioned fingers 70 will move or bend rearwardly and will not produce or effect any coaction between the pusher member 52 and the retracting pusher rod 40. However, the pusher member 52 will remain in its forwardly moved position due to the action of the container body clutching member now to be described.

The container body clutching member .generally indicated at 62 and best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6, comprises an annular dish-shaped body 73 having an enlarged end opening 74 for passage of the rodA 40. Extending outwardly and forwardly of the body 73 at an Ioblique angle are a plurality of spaced radiating arms 75 (three are shown), the ends of which are secured to the correspondingly spaced crimped lugs 76 formed on the flange 65 of the rod clutching member 60 to retain the two clutching members 60 and 62 to each other and to the pusher head or piston 52.

Also extending outwardly of the body 73 are a plurality of spaced radiating fingers 78 which extend rearwardly at an oblique angle. They are provided with sharp engaging ends 79 which engage and bite into the inner surface 21 of the container wall or body 20, as best shown in FIG. 6. The forward movement of the pusher member or piston 52 has no interconnecting effect between the fingers 78 and the inner wall 21 of the container, however, these fingers grip or clutch the inner wall to prevent retraction of the pusher head or piston 52 when the rod 40 is retracting. Thus, the push rod clutching member 60 enga-ges or clutches the pusher rod on the forward movement of the rod so as to move with it, while in this movement the clutch member 62 remains ineffective or inoperative. After the pusher member or piston 52 has been moved forward and the rod retracts, the push rod clutching member 60 becomes ineffective and the container body clutching member 62 becomes effective to prevent retraction. The pusher head 52 can only advance a set, predetermined distance on each forward movement of the rod, hence, only a set, predetermined and measured amount of material can be expressed from the device each time.

The pusher member 52 `advances progressively on the rod 40 in the direction of the discharge nozzle a prescribed set definite increment with each actuation until the pusher member 52 reaches the forward end of the rod, at which time the final increment of material is dispensed from the container 22.

The pusher rod 40 extends into the material in the container, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, with the piston or pusher member 52 positioned on the rod and in the container at the rear end thereof to advance forwardly with respect to the rod on the return of the rod with each actuation. This arrangement permits a short stroke movement of the rod to perform its function and also permits the entire rod to be concealed within the container 22` and the slidable or pressable member 32, without appreciably extending the overall length of the device beyond the container body.

To achieve `a touch control, that is, :actuation of the device with a minimum of manual pressure, it is important to reduce the friction between the operating parts. With the positive clutching members gripping in to their respective engaging surfaces to advance the piston and. to hold it in the advanced position while the rod is retracting and, yin accordance with this invention, not relying on friction for this purpose, the friction `in this device has been reduced to a minimum. As a result of the reduced friction it is possible to actuate the device with little manual pressure and to employ a relatively weak spring, all of which improves the ease with which the device may be operated. This is an important feature of this invention. l

The amount of material to be dispensed on each actuation is set and predetermined and is uniform with each actuation. T-he user need not determine the amount of material necessary for each application or use as an amount preset by the manufacturer of the product will be discharged when the pressable member 32 1s pressed. When released the pressable member will return to normal position and will be ready for subsequent actuation.

By varying the size of the container in relation to the degree of movement of the pressable member 32, the manufacturer of the product may set and control the amount of material to be discharged at each actuation. Therefore, this device can -be made to accommodate a variety of products.

The present device may be filled by standard present day filling machines. The filling is done through the rear end of the container 22 before the pusher rod, piston and slidable member are secured to the container.

The container parts, including the pusher rod, may be molded of polystyrene; the pusher member or piston may be formed of polyethylene, and the clutching members may be made of metal. It should be noted that the shape of the head of the piston is complementary to the shape of the discharge end of the container. This permits the piston to move forwardly to its limit to engage the inside wall of the nozzle of the container and expel all of the material in the container. The container may be formed of a transparent material if desired.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a single or unitary clutching member generally indicated at 82 which acts upon the pushing rod and the container. The unitary clutching member performs the same functions performed Iby the clutching means 54, comprised of the two members 60 and 62 previously described.

The clutching member 82 comprises an annular dishshaped body 83 with an external annular rim 84. The body has an enlarged opening 85 in the wall for passage of the pusher rod. The wall is provided with pairs of spaced parallel extending slits 86 which bisect spaced openings 87 in the wall to form a plurality of inwardly extending fingers 88 (four are shown), which extend rearwardly at an oblique angle and are provided with sharp engaging ends 89 which engage and bite into the pusher rod to grippingly engage the rod during its forward movement to cause the piston to move with the rod.

The external rim 84 is slitted as at 90 to provide a plurality of spaced outwardly extending fingers 91 which extend rearwardly at an oblique angle and are provided with sharp engaging ends 92 which engage and bite into the cylindrical body to prevent rearward movement of the piston as the rod is retracting.

The modified construction shown in FIGS. l0 to l5 will now be described.

T-he modified construction is essentially the same as that previously described, the difference being in the addition of a movable handle for the purpose of actuating the pusher rod, in lieu of the slidable or manually pressable member 32. T-he operating parts heretofore described will not be redescribed in detail as the previous description is applicable to the modified structure.

The cylindrical body 20' supports therewithin the pusher rod 40 on which is mounted the pusher member or piston 52 which has the same clutching means 54', or clutching member 82, and performs in the identical manner as that previously described. The material is expressed through the front of the container. The bottom of the cylindrical body 20' is provided with a fiat bottom mounting base 95 which has side grooves 96.

Stationarily secured to the mounting base 95 is a stationary bracket generally indicated at 97 which serves as the coupling member between the container 20 and the slidable handle, to be described. The stationary bracket 97 is provided with a bottom wall surface 97 engaging the at mounting base 95 and with spaced side walls 98 having inwardly extending ribs 99 adapted to be snapped into the grooves 96 of the mounting base. The mounting ba-se has front and rear stop members 100 engaging the stationary bracket 97 to hold it in xed relation to the container 20. In other words, after the bracket 97, is. snapped to the mounting base of the container 20' it likewise becomes a stationary member as is the container 20.

The spaced side walls 98 extend downwardly and inwardly to form guide channels 101 .to receive the lips 102 of the slidable handle generally indicated at 103. The stationary bracket 97 has a curved and downwardly extending finger engaging member 104 at the front thereof with spaced side walls 105 extending rearwardly thereof to provide a pocket 106 for the leaf spring secured to the handle.

The slidable handle 103 may be hollow and same is provided with a front opening 103' to accommodate a portion of the bracket 97 which extends thereinto. The rear of the handle 103 extends upwardly to form an upper extension 107 which has a slot 108 adapted to receive the grooved end 109 of the pusher rod 40 so that the rod 40 is coupled to the handle 103 and moves there.

with. The rod 40' has a reduced end 110 guided in an end cap generally indicated at 111. The end cap 111 may be ornamented with fins and is provided with an extension 112 having a biore 113 to receive the end 110 of the pusher rod 40. The cap 111 is fixedly secured as at 114 to the end of the cylindrical body 20' and is provided with an enlarged opening 115 at the bottom thereof to accommodate the extension 107 of the handle.

A leaf spring 116 has the bottom end anchored as at 117 to the bottom of the handle 103, with the upper end resting against the finger engaging member 104 Within the pocket 106 to normally urge the handle 103 to its rearward position, as shown in FIG. l2.

To operate the device the movable handle 103 and stationary finger engaging member 104 are manually engaged. By applying manual pressure the handle 103 will slide forwardly with respect to the stationary finger member 104 and thereby advance the pusher 40', in the same manner as previously described. Thus, with each actuation of the handle a preset, measured amount of the product is discharged, in the same manner as previously described with respect to the structure shown in FIGS. l to 7.

While the container 20' is disposable after use, the handle portion may be detached therefrom and coupled to another container filled with material.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

' What vis claimed is:

1. A device for containing and dispensing a material, said device comprising a container, a pusherrod within said container, a piston on said pusher rod, said pusher rod adapted to be moved forwardly by manual pressure, means associated with said piston to cause said piston to move forwardly with said rod on the forward movement of said rod to Iexpel a set, predetermined and measured amount of material from :said container and to cause said piston to remain in said forwardly moved position in said container on the retraction of said pusher rod, said means associated with said piston includes lingers which extend inwardly at an oblique angle for engaging the rod, and other lingers which extend youtwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle for engaging the container.

2. A device for containing and dispensing a material, said device comprising a container, a pusher rod within said container, a piston on said pusher rod, said pusher rod adapted to be moved forwardly by manual pressure, means associated with said piston to cause said piston to move forwardly with said rod on the forward movement of .said rod to expel a set, predetermined and measured amount of material from said container and to cause said piston to remain in said forwardly moved position in said container on the retraction of said pusher rod, said means comprising clutching memberswith gripping edges engaging thel pusher rod and the container body, and in amount of material fromsaid container and to cause said` piston to remain in said forwardly moved position in said container on the retraction of said pusher rod, said means associated with the piston includes a plurality of ngers adapted to grippingly engage the rod on the forward stroke of the rodfand a plurality of fingers to grippingly engage the container on the return stroke of the rod.v

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,324 10/17 Hackley 222-391 X 2,477,726 S/49 Davis 222-391 X 2,507,254 5/50 Jones 222-391 X 2,726,802 12/55 Jones 222-391 X 3,088,636 5/63 Spatz 222-391 X LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CONTAINING AND DISPENSING A MATERIAL, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A CONTAINER, A PUSHER ROD WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, A PISTON ON SAID PUSHER ROD, SAID PUSHER ROD ADAPTED TO BE MOVED FORWARDLY BY MANUAL PRESSURE, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PISTON TO CAUSE SAID PISTON TO MOVE FORWARDLY WITH SAID ROD ON THE FORWARE MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD TO EXPEL A SET, PREDETERMINED AND MEASURED AMOUNT OF MATERIAL FROM SAID CONTAINER AND TO CAUSE SAID PISTON TO REMAIN IN SAID FORWARDLY MOVED POSITION IN SAID CONTAINER ON THE RETRACTION OF SAID PUSHER ROD, SAID MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PISTON INCLUDES FINGER WHICH EXTEND INWARDLY AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE FOR ENGAGING THE ROD, AND OTHER FINGERS WHICH EXTEND OUTWARDLY AND REARWARDLY AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE FOR ENGAGING THE CONTAINER. 